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Unico Zelo

Adelaide Hills, South Australia

SUSTAINABLE - MINIMAL INTERVENTION

Brendan and Laura Carter are the brains behind Unico Zelo. Their love of Italy, connection with the vineyards of South Australi- an and philosophically advance winemaking techniques result in wines which are inherently varietal but deliver structure and style which are rarely managed by others.

As with all great vintners the Carters search for great fruit begins in the vineyard. But where many have looked straight to the best fruit available regardless the price, Brendan and Laura have spent years working with vineyard owners to manage particu- lar blocks and rows so as to garner the best results from some of Australia’s oldest plantings of traditional and alternate varie- tals.

The search for these particular vineyard parcels has also lead them out of the Adelaide Hills to the Riverland where they are working with growers to single out blocks which have the best aspect, soil structure and root structures and as a result the abil- ity to produce fantastic grapes, It’s a mean task which butts heads with the psyche of these growers, but not only is this paying dividends where fruit quality is concerned, they are also helping eschew in a new viticultural mentality for the region.

Ultimately Unico Zelo presents an ambitious representation of the character of a great winemaking team and the results are some of Australia’s most interesting wines.

“Brendan and Laura Carter sure have hit the ground running with their Unico Zelo wines; a confluence of interesting booze, considered and intelligent rationalisation about winemaking decisions , experimental enthusiasm and an affordability that many others of a similar ilk seem to overlook. Lots of ticks.” Mike Bennie, The Wine Front.

2022 TROPO PINOT NOIR – ADELAIDE HILLS, SA

100% Pinot Noir, 100% destemmed stainless steel ferment for 7 days, no oak, wild fermented, bottled unfined, cross-flow filtered.

2022 UNICO ZELO ‘JUNGLE JUNGLE’ DOLCETTO – CLARE VALLEY, SA

60% Polish Hill River Dolcetto, 40% Langhorne Creek Dolcetto, 7 days skin contact, wild fermented separately in stainless steel, blended prior to bottling, unfined, cross-flow filtered

2022 UNICO ZELO ‘FRESH A.F’ – RIVERLAND, SA

65% Nero, 25% Grenache, 10% Zibbibo
Wild ferment, Nero co-fermented with Zibbibo (90% to 10%) in stainless, on skins for 5 days,
pressed back to stainless, blended with a component of grenache (7 days skin contact) then bottled
without fining, cross-flow filtered.

2022 UN PETIT SAUVIGNON BLANC - ADELAIDE HILLS

Forget the dainty, delicate Sauvignon Blanc you know. Un Petit takes the reins and throws you headfirst into a whirlwind of electrifying flavor. Imagine biting into a sun-drenched grapefruit, its zing amplified by a crystalline tang. That’s the experience waiting for you in this bottle.

Un Petit hails from the sun-drenched Adelaide Hills with vibrant aromas of refreshing citrus, passion fruit, and subtle grassy notes. On the palate, it unveils a crisp and refreshing experience, showcasing lively acidity, grapefruit zest, and a hint of green apple. A well-balanced, invigorating white wine with a lingering, clean finish.

Un Petit may be small in name, but its impact is anything but. It’s a true celebration of the Adelaide Hills. Are you ready to be surprised?

2021 TROPO PINK PET NAT - ADELAIDE HILLS

“Sparkling wine is a joyous thing, whether it be Grand Cru Grower Champagne or cheap as chips Prosecco, it’s built for celebrations and sunshine imbibing – but Pet Nat is truly the most democratic and exciting of the field, so it’s only fitting we added it to our Tropo range. We pieced together a lovely blush blend of Adelaide Hills Chardonnay, Skinsy Pinot Gris and a tiny dose of Merlot to make the most refreshing bubbly boy in the game. Spring strawberries, pickled cherries, red currants, ripe pear and creaming soda all at once. A lovely dry, saline finish to boot – this will fill Unico Zelo recycling bins all summer, and probably through winter too. Join the party.”

2021 UNICO ZELO SEA FOAM VERMENTINO/FIANO PETILLANT NATUREL -RIVERLAND

Sea Foam V.2 is here! Few tweaks and changes since our out of the box smash debut release of Pet Nat – namely, a variety change. For the very first time, we’ve snagged some red hot Vermentino from the Riverland to make the core of this bubbly boi. We reckon it’s made the wine EVEN better.

Sea Foam is still as salty yet refreshing as ever. We took the bowl of nashi pears & green apples that were the core of the wine and added a touch more white nectarine, frangipani and a whiff of grassy freshness. Sea Foam is as close to the pure distillation of spring that we’ve ever released. Honestly, we’ve levelled up here. Sea Foam is like Terminator 2 – just that extra bit better. Come with me if you want to drink.

2021 TROPO PINOT GRIS - ADELAIDE HILLS

Unveiling the 2021 Tropo Pinot Gris – Adelaide Hills might present an enticing bouquet of juicy nashi pear and nectarine, with a hint of herbal intrigue like tomato leaf. On the palate, expect a well-balanced and textured experience, echoing the aromas with vibrant fruit and a touch of Unico Zelo’s signature “funk.” This lighter-bodied white wine boasts refreshing acidity, making it easy to drink with a moderate alcohol content around 11.5%.

2023 UNICO ZELO FRESH A.F. - NERO D’AVOLA, ZIBIBBO - RIVERLAND

The freshest, zippiest style of red wine. A succulent, juicy, aromatic and supremely refreshing wine. A touch of ancient vine Zibibbo results in smashability.

Region: Riverland, SA
Blend: Nero d’Avola, Zibibbo
ABV: 12%
Closure: 750ml

2023 UNICO ZELO JADE AND JASPER FIANO - RIVERLAND

The Alpha & Omega of Unico Zelo. When discovering the ability of Fiano’s incredible to be dry grown in the Riverland, a bonafide desert, it set us on the path that we were set to follow. It also certainly helps that the wine produced from it is nothing short of a delight. Elegant whiffs of jasmine and white peach blossoms, racy and crackling acidity with distinct Fiano texture. One of those white wines that can suit almost any situation calling for a good glass – it’s destined for the lunch table.

2021 HALCYON DAYS NERO D’AVOLA - RIVERLAND - SINGLE VINEYARD

A great medium bodied red wine: fresh acidity, plush red fruits, a whisper of spice and the kind of structure that’s ready for the esky.

Viticulturally, Nero looks absolutely at home year after year in Riverland, as it’s able to achieve a balanced level of ripeness that we just don’t see year on year with the other regions – it’s probably the easiest of the three to decide when to pick. It’s bang-on this year, and as always it looks just that little bit Gamay-esque, almost Cru Beaujolais. Really lovely sweet nutmeg and baking spice aromatics, with a woody, cedary undercurrent, backed up by these bright punchy blue and brambly black fruits. Great mineral drive this year, salty acid line framed by crispy tannins. A bit of meaty chew to it – how nice! As always, chill it down – it’ll be great with charcuterie this year or even pepperoni pizza! It has always been a party wine, and it continues to be.

2022 UNICO ZELO DELTA BLUE - LANGHORNE CREEK

This is a classic Unico Zelo wine with freshness, and that juicy core, but it’s backed up by a lovely, subtle suede tannin. Big blueberry, raspberry, and blackcurrant vibes, with some cassia, bay leaf and cloven spice. A comforting, wintery wine that’s as refreshing and approachable as always from us!

2020 PASTAFARIAN NEBBIOLO - ADELAIDE HILLS

Variety Change! Yup, we’ve flipped from this being 100% Nebbiolo to Sangiovese – a few reasons for this.
1 – In 2022 we harvested 450kg of Nebbiolo from the Adelaide Hills vineyard that was at the core of this wine (more on that in a few years). In 2023 we harvested nothing. It’s been a tough few years for this variety and this vineyard.
2 – Sangiovese is a pretty good pasta variety hey?
As much as we love Nebbiolo – and we really love Nebbiolo – the future is bright for Sangiovese and we’ve been working with this fruit for a few years now in Truffle Hound and have been really impressed with the quality, so 2022 was the year to give it a solo release. If the Truffle Hound blend was the Beatles, Nebbiolo would be John, Barbera would be Paul, and for me, Sangiovese is George. So you could say this is our ‘My Sweet Lord’. Apologies for the musical tangent.

2021 MALLEE GAMBIT NERO D’AVOLA - CLARE VALLEY - SINGLE VINEYARD

There is something about this wine that is so bloody captivating and it has an ineffable quality to it. Clare is known for its eucalyptus herbaceous signature, and that really shows in a unique way in Mallee Gambit.

This is definitely the most ‘sour cherry’ Nero we make – the classic tasting note for the variety – but there is a jubey, green edge to it. Think Shiso Leaf. We’re really getting used to this vineyard and in our fourth year of making it, we’ve hit our straps. A beautifully balanced acidity, the structure is super fine-grained and slatey. A distinctly unique Australian Nero D’avola.

2020 PASTAFARIAN NEBBIOLO - ADELAIDE HILLS

Variety Change! Yup, we’ve flipped from this being 100% Nebbiolo to Sangiovese – a few reasons for this.
1 – In 2022 we harvested 450kg of Nebbiolo from the Adelaide Hills vineyard that was at the core of this wine (more on that in a few years). In 2023 we harvested nothing. It’s been a tough few years for this variety and this vineyard.
2 – Sangiovese is a pretty good pasta variety hey?
As much as we love Nebbiolo – and we really love Nebbiolo – the future is bright for Sangiovese and we’ve been working with this fruit for a few years now in Truffle Hound and have been really impressed with the quality, so 2022 was the year to give it a solo release. If the Truffle Hound blend was the Beatles, Nebbiolo would be John, Barbera would be Paul, and for me, Sangiovese is George. So you could say this is our ‘My Sweet Lord’. Apologies for the musical tangent.

NV UNICO POMELO VERMOUTH - ADELAIDE HILLS

Starting with a base of Sauvignon Blanc from the Adelaide Hills, your Vermouth game is about to get a serious upgrade.

With a touch of skins on the press, the base wine itself gives us some big daddy acid, full of tropical fruit and maximum texture.

Alongside the star of the show – Pomelo from the Riverland – we’ve added some ruby grapefruits for texture, peppermint gum for some refreshing aromatics and finally, finger limes for some acid pop.

Blended with both fresh and dried wormwood for a double-barrelled hit of herbals, Unico Pomelo is your next go-to dry vermouth for a huge hit of attitude.

NV UNICO ROSA VERMOUTH - ADELAIDE HILLS

With a blend of Pinot Gris from the Adelaide Hills and Grenache from the Riverland, your next aperitif is about to win the Superbowl.

There’s some epic crunch from skin contact on the Pinot Gris and we’ve blended in enough Grenache to make you think you’ve eaten watermelon sugar. This base wine is fresh and bright A.F.

Alongside the star of the show – Rosella from the tropical Australian north – we’ve added some Davidson Plum for some zip and grip and some strawberry gum for uplifted aromatics.

Blended with both fresh and dried wormwood for a fresh drop of herbals, Unico Rosa is about to give you 10 minutes of pure fire… until you pour yourself another!

2021 MALLEE GAMBIT NERO D’AVOLA - CLARE VALLEY - SINGLE VINEYARD - LIMITED

A vibrant and fruit-forward Nero d’Avola that showcases the varietal’s bold character. The nose is rich with aromas of ripe dark cherries, plums, and a touch of sweet spice. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with juicy red and black fruit flavors, including blackberry, raspberry, and a hint of chocolate. The tannins are soft and well-integrated, offering a smooth mouthfeel, while the finish is dry with subtle earthy notes and a touch of spice. Perfect for pairing with grilled meats, pizza, or Mediterranean-inspired dishes. A beautifully balanced, easy-drinking wine.

Archive

Vintage Wine Availability
2022 TROPO PINOT NOIR - ADELAIDE HILLS SOLD OUT!
2021 TROPO ‘BIG RED’ - SYRAH, MERLOT - ADELAIDE HILLS SOLD OUT!
2022 UNICO ZELO TRUFFLE HOUND - NEBBIOLO, BARBERA, SANGIOVESE - CLARE VALLEY SOLD OUT!
2022 RIVER SAND FIANO - RIVERLAND - SINGLE VINEYARD SOLD OUT!
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